STB adopts final PTC expenses and investments reporting rules

On Aug. 14, 2013, the Surface Transportation Board adopted final rules for the reporting of positive train control (PTC) expenses and investments for Class I railroads.

The rules require the railroads to separately identify information on PTC implementation expenditures in their annual financial R-1 reports to the Board “so that such costs can be viewed both as a component of, and separately from, other capital investments and expenses,” STB said.

“The supplement will provide for PTC versions of schedules 330 (road property and equipment improvements), 332 (depreciation base and rates—road property and equipment), 335 (accumulated depreciation), 352B (investment in railroad property), and 410 (railway operating expenses) containing dollar amounts that reflect only the amounts attributable to PTC for the filing year,” STB’s decision, Docket No. EP 706, says. “The PTC Supplement will also contain PTC versions of schedules 700 (mileage operated at close of year), 710 (inventory of equipment), 710S (unit cost of equipment installed during the year), and 720 (track and traffic conditions). Railroads will also report, by footnote in each supplement schedule, PTC-related expenditures for passenger-only service not otherwise captured in the individual schedules to allow the Board to understand fully the railroads’ PTC expenditures. In addition to separating capital expenses and operating expenses incurred by the railroad for PTC, the respondent entity will include by footnote disclosure the value of funds from non-government and government transfers, including grants, subsidies, and other contributions or reimbursements, used or designated to purchase or create PTC assets or to offset PTC costs.”